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My point was that people needing jobs is not going to stop automation. Welfare might very well be increased, but not as a precondition to automation. More likely in response to automation, years after it becomes a big problem. You had indicated that we were prevented from going ahead with automation by the need for people to have jobs. I was merely pointing out how wrong that was.
Some countries, industries and companies are responding to these changes better than others. On one end of the spectrum regulatory regimes can prevent innovation, Sander says, as France is doing with the recent ban on Uber.
I think it is mostly implicit rather than explicit. We could fast-track the automation of long haul trucking and have automated trucks on the road within 5 years that would outperform human drivers with regard to safety. Explicitly, the reason we say that we can't is because we have to be really careful because of the public safety issue. News flash - for an automated system the bar is being set much higher than what we find acceptable (or at least we put up with) from human drivers. The Google cars accident rates are far lower than the average driver's and in most of the few accidents they have been involved in the other car was at fault or the human driver in the Google car had taken over. Recently, there was one where the automated system was found at fault. It was running newer code modified to more closely mimic human behavior to work its way into heavy traffic from being parked at the curb on a busy street. So why doesn't the government fast track this? Surely they aren't being lobbied to go slowly on this for reasons other than safety, right? If they were really serious about safety, they would do stricter enforcement and more rigorous education and testing. Some of us really shouldn't be driving, but we treat it like a right here (another rant for another day).
So you can help her by using her checkout? When they add more self service lanes do you think they're going to care that you used her checkout when they decide which employees they're going to lay off? More likely they will do whatever it takes to make it more convenient for you to use self service lanes, to motivate you to use them. When you're one of the few holdouts, they might replace all the rest of the lanes with self service. What kind of protest are you going to do then? None of your protesting is likely to make a bit of difference. It would be better for people to start getting better jobs now, while they still can, instead of waiting to become totally redundant, and get in line with thousands of other applicants for the few jobs they qualify for. If a college degree is what she needs, she's more likely to get it if she starts now, instead of waiting till the gets laid off and can't find a job.
I just think it's very elitist of you to insist grocery checkers get better jobs. Did it ever occur to you that maybe that's not an option?
As I said I doubt they will ever make it convenient for me to purchase produce in a self service lane, which I happen to buy a lot. It's just common sense that a checker will be able to check me out faster than me trying to look up the code for the romain lettuce, plums and salad bar I purchase on a regular basis. On top of that I happen to enjoy talking to the checker, I glance at their tag and call them by name.
Stupid me, I guess I should stop enjoying talking to that underachiever. I guess it will be up to me to memorize the produce codes or make sure I purchase the plums that have them on them so maybe, just maybe, I can check myself out as quickly as the pro.
I've been happily married for 35 years, raised three kids, did the whole PTA, Women's Club, Volunteer Work, etc thing and enjoyed it for a long time. We retired to Oregon ten years ago and I decided to join... Nothing. I wanted to see how much I'd miss all the social interaction and found out I didn't miss it at all.
My husband and I hang out together, my eldest daughter lives nearby with her family, including two grandsons who are frequent visitors, I am in a book group (okay, so I did have to join something, lol) and my time is my own. Exercising a few times a week at the local Y gets me out of the house and seeing people whose company I enjoy for the hour or so I'm there.
So, my wardrobe doesn't require too many fancy dresses, outfits or accessories anymore. Sometimes I miss getting dressed up but not enough to join a club. I don't like going out at night anymore. Sitting home with my husband watching tv and sipping some wine is my idea of a great evening.
I love my life right now. It's not exciting or busy, but it's on my own terms and my family is great company. Reclusive? Maybe a little. Lazy? Possibly. Happy? One hundred percent.
p.s. We don't live in the woods. We live on a dead-end street (aka 'cul-de-sac') with neighbors who are wonderful. I like having people around me and don't mind the sounds of a suburban neighborhood, even if I don't host get-togethers or parties. I like my neighbors at arms' length.
Last edited by ExNooYawk2; 04-15-2016 at 02:32 PM..
Reason: To add a post script.
Sounds like a great and wonderful life which you are very much enjoying, ExNooYawk2!
It doesn't sound reclusive or lazy at all. Even if it were (I don't see how it could ever be called reclusive or lazy) since you're happy with it, that is all that counts. I don't think you need to do anything other than what you're doing!
Last edited by matisse12; 04-15-2016 at 02:49 PM..
I've been happily married for 35 years, raised three kids, did the whole PTA, Women's Club, Volunteer Work, etc thing and enjoyed it for a long time. We retired to Oregon ten years ago and I decided to join... Nothing. I wanted to see how much I'd miss all the social interaction and found out I didn't miss it at all.
My husband and I hang out together, my eldest daughter lives nearby with her family, including two grandsons who are frequent visitors, I am in a book group (okay, so I did have to join something, lol) and my time is my own. Exercising a few times a week at the local Y gets me out of the house and seeing people whose company I enjoy for the hour or so I'm there.
So, my wardrobe doesn't require too many fancy dresses, outfits or accessories anymore. Sometimes I miss getting dressed up but not enough to join a club. I don't like going out at night anymore. Sitting home with my husband watching tv and sipping some wine is my idea of a great evening.
I love my life right now. It's not exciting or busy, but it's on my own terms and my family is great company. Reclusive? Maybe a little. Lazy? Possibly. Happy? One hundred percent.
p.s. We don't live in the woods. We live on a dead-end street (aka 'cul-de-sac') with neighbors who are wonderful. I like having people around me and don't mind the sounds of a suburban neighborhood, even if I don't host get-togethers or parties. I like my neighbors at arms' length.
I find this very interesting. I'm kind of in a similar situation although I'm not retired. For the first time in 40 years I now work from home. I was dreading it, I thought I'd miss the daily contact of co-workers and become very lonely and distracted. But I feel as you do, the pluses outweigh the negatives.
I'm up in age, way smarter than the average bear to start out with, and frankly, today most all people get on my nerves. I have a low tolerance for stupidity (those with no common sense, not anything to do with "book smart"). So I bought myself a "fort." I love it. I'll decide when and with whom I'll socialize. Call me a hermit. Whatever. Sticks and stones...
Not only do I use the self checkout exclusively, I order everyday items off of ebay and wait 'til the UPS driver is out of sight to retrieve 'em off the front porch.
That seems to be a bit extreme. I don't mind chatting with a cashier or other people in retail. However, I've never been to the senior center or similar. I do my banking online by preference, but if I need to visit a bank, it doesn't distress me. There's a difference between enjoying a private life and anthrophobia.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Escort Rider
You could have given us the author, Jean-Paul Sartre. ("L'enfer, c'est autrui.")
"What is a man? A dirty little pile of secrets"
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